There’s been a change of plan this month. With both John and I in Las Vegas for the World Series, I’ve arranged a face-to-face training session with my mentor in his suite at the Wynn.

To be honest, this training session is much needed. I’m meeting Dr John in an attempt to remedy a severe case of ‘Dontbelieveyouitis’. It’s a hideous disease I caught while on holiday in Italy last month. When I returned home before heading out to Vegas, I managed to successfully ‘call off’ a whole day’s worth of buy-ins ($500) by playing way below my A-game, and stacking off with top pair to obvious overpairs on at least a couple of occasions.Strip poker

As it turns out, getting leathered in Spearmint Rhino until the wee hours the night before isn’t the best preparation for an intensive one-on-one session.